Crossfield Conference – Saturday 16th October 2021

The  second conference on Crossfields of  Arnside has been rescheduled to Saturday 16th October 2021. It has ben postponed from 2020 due to Covid.

If you want to book please fill in the booking form at the bottom of the page. Payment will not be due till October.

Crossfields of Arnside were leading builders of gaff rigged yachts and Morecambe Bay Prawners (also known as Nobbies). They were active from the 1840s to 1940s. There are around 40 Crossfield Boats still in existence, including Bonita 1888 the oldest boat to take part in the 2013 OGA Round Britain Challenge. In 2018 Arnside Sailing Club brought Severn 1912 to have example of a Crossfields’ Boat in the village.

Severn

It is  planned to include talks about Empress 1928, which is being restored prior to going out to the Mediterranean and Ziska 1903, which was shortlisted for the 2020 Classic Boat Awards. (Best Restoration for a boat under 40 foot and Gstaad Yacht Club Centenarian of the Year). Ziska is currently based in Port Townsend on the West Coast of America. In June 2019 Ziska took part in a Race2Alaska coming 22nd of 35 starters following a two-year restoration by her owner Stanford Siver.

Ziska

The afternoon will focus on the Sir William Priestley 1934, the Morecambe Fishermen’s Lifeboat and the different boats that have built from a mould taken from Sir William by Eric Bergqvist in 1979. Planned talks include Minx by Paul Jolley (South West OGA). The conference will also feature Freda which was built as the prototype for the Freda Class based on the design of the Sir William Priestley

Sir William Priestley Launch 1934

Freda

It is planned that the conference will be chaired by Eric Crossfield, great grandson of William Crossfield, who set up the boatyard on the shore at Arnside in the 1890s.

You can download further details of  the conference here Conference details 

For a report on 2019’s conference https://oga.org.uk/news/arnside-2019

Tickets £24 including buffet lunch (any surplus will go towards the maintenance of Severn)

Social Activities

Friday 15th October

There should be a chance to meet up in the Sailing Club or a local pub

Saturday 16th October – Conference Supper

Conference supper at 7.30pm  in Arnside Sailing Club on the Promenade (Price £10)

Sunday 17th October, 1045 – 1300 

Optional Visit to Windermere Jetties: Museum of Boats, Steam and Stories

A chance to see the new Windermere Jetty a spectacular attraction with a great location, which includes steam boats, racing yachts and recording breaking motor boats. You are welcome to join their ‘conservation conversation’ at 11.00am outside the Conservation Workshop to find out more about the restoration and conservation work they do. Their theme for 2020 is Swallows and Amazons. Price £7.50 per person (group price)

Museums website https://windermerejetty.org/

Conference Venue:

Arnside Educational Institute

Church Hill, Arnside, LA5 0DF

To Book https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/arnside-sailing-club/crossfields-conference/e-kvekma

Donate to Severn’s Restoration

You can donate to Severn’s Restoration via https://peoplesfundraising.com/donation/severn-restoration